Elevated steel tank



Feb- 3, 1944 G. T. HoRToN ELEVATED STEEL TANK Filed Nov. 4. 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 G. T. HoRToN ELEVATED STEEL TANK.

Filed Nov. 4, 1942 Feb. s, 1944.

Patented Feb. 8, 1944 ELEVATED STEEL TANK George T. Horton, Chicago, Ill., assigner to Chicago Bridge & Iron Company, Chicago, lil., a corporation of Illinois Application November 4, 1942, Serial No. 464,456

2 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in elevated steel tanks and method of erecting the same. My invention is particularly applicable in connection with tanks of the general type shown in my United States Patent No. 2,264,668, granted December 2, 1941, and more especially tanks with horizontal radial legs similar to those shown in Figures 4, 5 and 6 of said patent.

Among the features of my invention is the provision of a substantially spherical tank supported on a substantially cylindrical riser pipe having at the bottom one or more horizontal radial legs with pivot or bearing supports at the ends.

Another feature of my invention is the provision of an improved method of erecting a tank of the character described.

Other features and advantages of my invention will appear more fully as I proceed with my specification.

In those forms of devices embodying the features of my invention, shown in the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation; Fig. 2 is a view taken as indicated by the line 2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a view showing the tank completely fabricated but before erecti-on; Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view in side elevation showing a modied form; and Fig. 5 is a view taken as indicated Vby the line 5 of Fig. 4.

As shown in the drawings, the tank includes a substantially spherical portion I supported on a substantially cylindrical, but slightly tapered, riser pipe Il by means of an inverted frustoconical collar portion I 2 which joins the spherical portion tangentially.

Structures of this kind are ordinarily built of sheet metal plates of various shapes or sizes suitably welded or bolted together, and no attempt has been made to show the separate plates or their junction lines.

At the bottom of the riser pipe II are three radial tapered tubular legs. Two of these legs I5, l are diametrically opposed, and the third leg I6 is at right angles to the first two. All the legs are in the same horizontal plane. In describing the tank and in speaking of the riser pipe as being vertical, and the legs I5 and I6 as lying in a horizontal plane, I refer to the -position these parts will .be in after the tank is erected. As will be explained hereinafter, the tank is fabricated substantially completely with the main body portion Ii! resting on the ground and the riser pipe horizontal. After fabrication, the structure is erected by the method hereinafter described.

The outer ends of the legs I5, I5 are pivotally supported in bearings Il mounted on the foundations I8. The outer end of the leg I6 carries a plate IQ adapted to rest on the concrete foundation 20 when the tank is erected. 2l, 2| indicate anchor bolts to hold the plate I9 in position on the support 20.

As mentioned above, the structurels substantially completely fabricated in the position shown in Figure 3 with the body portion il) resting on the ground 22 and the outer ends of the legs I5 in the bearings Il. When in this position the leg IG extends substantially vertically upwards. To erect the tank, a cable 23 is attached to the upper end of the leg IS and pulled by any winch or other source of power (not shown) to raise the tank to the final vertical position. Other means (not shown) may be ernployed to assist, for example, a derrick or A- frame may be employed to attach a lifting rope to the upper or outer end of the riser pipe Il to assist in the lifting, especially at the start. Suitable back stays (not shown) are preferably employed to steady the structure and prevent it from going too far as it reaches its nal position.

As explained above, the structure is rotated in the pivots I'I, l 'I until the riser pipe is upright and the plate I9 on the leg I6 rests on the foundation 20. The tank is then in its final erected position. The bearings Il, Il on the supports I8, I8 and the support 20 may constitute the sole permanent supporting means for the structure, or an additional support such as the concrete pier 24 may also be placed under the bottom of the spherical portion 25 at the lower end of the riser pipe II, said spherical portion serving to connect the inner ends of the legs I5 and I6 to the riser I I.

The leg IG may .be hollow and communicate with the interior of the riser I I and may also carry the pipe connection 2B adapted to be connected to the ll and drain pipe 2l.

In Figs. 4 and 5 I have shown a modied form of the construction in which only two legs at the bottom are employed instead of three. As here shown, the riser III corresponds to the riser II, and the leg I I5 corresponds to one of the legs I5. The opposite leg, however, is omitted and in its place is substitutedv a trunnion II5a supported in the bearing Illa mounted on the foundation IIBa which is also extended to form a support |24 for the spherical portion 125 at the bottom of the riser III.

The outer end of the leg II5 is mounted in a bearing II'I on the post II8 corresponding to the bearing I1 and post I8 described in connection with the other form.

Likewise, the leg H6 corresponds to the leg I6 and carries a plate II9 adapted to rest on the support I20 when the tank is erected.

In the form of Figs. 4 and 5 the tank also is fabricated on the ground with the riser Il I substantially horizontal and the leg IIS substantially vertical. The end of this leg is then attached to a suitable cable, such as the cable 23, and pulled downwardly causing the trunnion leg IIE and the trunnion IISa to rotate in their bearings and bring the riser III to an upright position until the plate H9 is supported on the post |20, Either of the legs H5 or H6 may be hollow and communicate with the riser pipe and serve for pipe connections as described in connection with the other form.

It will be seen that broadly speaking the invention comprises a tank structure with a riser pipe having a body portion at the top and op positely extending trunm'ons at the bottom mounted in bearing supports. In the device of Figs. 1 3 the legs I5, I5, and especially the ends thereof, constitute the trunmons mounted in the bearing supports Il. In the device of Figs. 4 and 5 the leg I I5, or the end thereof, is the trunnion, and the opposite extending trunnion is the short shaft II5a mounted in the loearinsr supporty Illa.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A storage tank, including: a riser pipe, a body Iportion supported thereon, a hollow substantially spherical portion at the lower end of the riser pipe and in communication therewith, and oppositely horizontally extending aligned hollow tapering members with their larger ends attached to said spherical portion and serving as supporting legs for the tank, said tapering members acting as trunnions for said tank, and having their smaller ends rotatably mounted in bearings.

2. A storage tank, including: a riser pipe, a body portion supported thereon, "a hollow substantially spherical portion at the lower end of the riser pipe and in communication therewith, a horizontally extending hollow tapering member at right angles to the riser pipe and having its larger end attached to said spherical portion, a leg member connected to said spherical portion and extending oppositely from said tapering member, said leg portion and said tapering member serving as supporting legs for the tank and as trunnions for said tank, and said leg portion and tapering member having their outer ends rotatably mounted in bearings.

GEORGE T. HORTON. 

